"The Girl of Hawthorn and Glass" by Adan Jerreat-Poole

This is a new YA fantasy novel. Eli is a witch assassin who is sent by the Coven to the human world to kill ghosts. Witches in this world live in a parallel reality of sorts - it was never precisely explained where their realm is, but getting there is complicated and includes going through some sort of vortex. One day, Eli follows the mark but something goes horribly wrong and she realizes that instead of a ghost, she killed a human. The story takes off from there. Eli makes new friends in the human world and begins unraveling the secrets of her own reality.

This book definitely had a lot of potential. However, my main problem with it was the writing. I felt like the author never fleshed out the world or the characters. Lots of things remained vague throughout the book which was super-confusing and distracting. It gave the impression of being a rough draft rather than a finished novel. Perhaps it's just the author's style, but I don't think it is for me. It is a fairly short book though so I ended up just powering through the last 40% or so. Had it been longer, I would have definitely DNF'ed it. I gave it 2.5 out of 5 stars. An interesting premise, poor execution. I will not be reading the sequel.

An e-ARC was provided by NetGalley.com

"Norse Mythology" by Neil Gaiman

I have always liked Viking myths and legends so when this version by Neil Gaiman came out, I was immediately interested. Norse mythology can be quite grim and bloody. Some of it is definitely present in this book too. However, Gaiman also makes these myths sound modern and very approachable. If you are looking for a book on Norse mythology, this is a great place to start. It'll give you a nice overview of the pantheon and major stories. This book also has an added benefit of being well written with a keen sense of humor and mystery of life. 

One thing that strikes me about Norse mythology is how little interaction the gods of Asgard have with humans. It is almost like they have their own world, wars, disagreements, etc, and the world of humans is entirely separate. Gods do not meddle in human affairs nor frankly pay any attention to it. This is quite different from the Greco-Roman mythology which is largely human/hero-centered. 

Asgardian gods are also not very likeable. They cheat, lie and deceive each other mercilessly. We all expect such behavior of Loki, but the rest of them are just as bad. They are also not very forgiving. In a way, Ragnarok is their own doing. The monsters they fight are of their own making. I did like the concept of renewal that Ragnarok brings. Old disagreements, cruelty, revenge, all ugliness are washed away, and a new reality is created in its place. I definitely highly recommend this book. 5 out of 5 stars. 

"The Silvered Serpents" by Roshani Chokshi

The Silvered Serpents is the action-packed sequel to The Gilded Wolves which I read last year. In this installment, Severin, Laila, Zofia, Enrique and Hypnos travel to Russia. In Book 1, they were able to thwart the Fallen House's plot but did not find all of the House's treasure. Among it, as rumor has it, one will find The Divine Lyrics, the book which Laila needs in order to prolong her life. 

I did re-read The Gilded Wolves right before I started the sequel, and I am glad I did as I definitely forgot many of the details. The book was just as enjoyable upon re-reading as I remembered. The Silvered Serpents is definitely darker and grittier. Severin painfully suffers the loss of Tristan. His grief consumes him. He truly thinks he can never let anyone get close to him and risk such pain again. He and Laila barely speak to each other even as Laila starts counting down the days to her 19th birthday - the day of her foretold death. As our friends rush to the lake Baikal in search of the Sleeping Palace, prepare for more secrets, betrayals, unexpected plot twists and heartache. 

As usual with fantasy based in Russia, I know some readers will find fault with Chokshi's use of Russian names, geography and history. Mistakes of this kind do not bother me in fantasy. It is her world and the author definitely has the creative license to do whatever she wants. But I admit, it is a bit annoying when the Ural Mountains suddenly pop up near Baikal (imagine if the Rockies were said to be located in Virginia), or a character's last name is constructed as a patronymic (Efremovna instead of Efremova). 

Overall, I really enjoyed the book. It does end on a bit of a cliffhanger. It is not a bad one. Many things are explained and we know what is happening but the book definitely does not have a self-contained ending. At this point, I am not sure when book 3 is going to be released, but I would imagine, at least a year from now.

5 out of 5 stars. Definitely recommend. An e-ARC was provided by NetGalley.com

"Clap When You Land" by Elizabeth Acevedo

Clap When You Land is another outstanding book by Elizabeth Acevedo. Like her Poet X it is written entirely in verse. I do recommend listening to it on audio if you get a chance. This story is about two sisters: one living in New York and the other in the Dominican Republic. Their father had two families, married two different women, and the two girls were born two months apart. The sisters know nothing about each other or the double life their father leads. Then unexpectedly, a tragedy strikes. Their father dies in a plane crash while en route to his annual summer retreat in the DR. 

The book provides a wonderful insight into the hopes and dreams both girls have, how much they both love their father and how their lives change upon his death. This book is also about grief, how paralyzing and soul crushing it can feel not being able to find a reason for senseless and sudden death. As usual, Acevedo explores hard hitting subjects of poverty, sexual harassment, and immigration. At the same time, this book is full of love and hope. At this point, she is definitely one of my favorite authors. 5 out of 5 stars.